How We Review ZOSI Security Systems

By John Carlsen

Who writes these pages?

Every guide, review and comparison here is written by John Carlsen.

Where do the figures come from?

1. ZOSI's published specifications: recorder channels, cameras in the box, resolution, hard-drive size, PoE or Wi-Fi power, pan-tilt or fixed housings, and audio.
2. The manuals and setup guides that come with ZOSI kits: adding a camera, PoE port limits, firmware and remote viewing in the ZOSI Smart app.
3. Points that recur in public buyer reviews. If many buyers raise the same question, such as app setup or recorder storage, we answer it on the page. We describe the pattern rather than quoting individuals.

A kit's free channels are its recorder channels minus the cameras in the box. Nothing else is calculated.

Why is a figure missing?

ZOSI publishes a night-vision distance or a detection range for some cameras and not for others. A dash in a table means that figure isn't published, and it isn't estimated. If two ZOSI sources disagree on a version, the page says so.

How are the pages put together?

• Product pages list the kit's channels, cameras, resolution and storage, who it suits, and its limits.
• Reviews go into one kit, such as the C220 16-channel kit with ten 4MP domes or the C296 8-channel kit with six 5MP pan-tilt cameras.
• Comparisons line up two systems on the same measures, such as fixed C220 domes against C296 pan-tilt cameras.
• Guides cover camera placement, NVR versus DVR channel counts, and how to choose a kit.
• The ZOSI review page gives an overview of every line and links to the rest.

Which kit suits which home?

The C220 16-channel kit puts ten fixed 4MP domes on a 4K PoE recorder with a 4TB drive, for a larger property that wants many set views. The C296 8-channel kit uses six 5MP cameras that pan and tilt, for fewer cameras covering more ground by moving. Analog HD-TVI cameras pair with a DVR; PoE cameras pair with an NVR.

What happens when something is wrong?

Send the page and the correct figure, with its source, through the Contact page. Confirmed corrections go onto the page.